End cap for golf club grips



l EEE?? H. G. BARRETT END CAP FOR GOLF CLUB GRIPS Oct. 17, 1933.

Filed March 4, 1931 Patented Oct. 17, 1933 y UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 1,931,424 END CAP Foa-GOLF CLUB GRIPS Hamid G. Bama, Wilmet, nl. Application March 4, 1931. Serial No. 519,943

' 4 claims. (c1. 27e-80) l This invention relates to end caps for golf club grips and the like.

The salient objects are to securely fasten the ends of grips for golf clubs and the like; to protect the ends of such grips to prevent damage thereto and the resulting fraying and the like thereof; to expedite installation and removal of the grips; and to provide a novel cap of pleasing appearance and economical manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the selected embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a golf club grip having my novel cap associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical Sectional view showing the grip as arranged prior to the installation of my cap;

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional View showing my cap installed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of my cap and a plug used therewith, these parts being shown separated;

Figi 5 is a top plan view of the cap; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views of modied forms of construction.'

Golf clubs are customarily carried in bags having an open upper end through whichthe head ends of the clubs are extended whereby the grip or handle ends thereof rest on the bottom'of the bag. These grips usually comprise a strap of leather or the like wound about' the handle portion of the club and when the ends of these grips are rested on the bottom of the bag the marginal section of the grip is often damaged. Moreover, this marginal section is sometimes struck against objects in the handling of the club and it is not uncommon to nd this section of the grip damaged even before the club' has been used. The strap providing the grip is spirally wound about the handle portion of the club with the adjacent edges in abutment to thereby provide a smooth uninterrupted surface. The upper end of the strap is usually -vse` cured by a tack or other securing means extended into the handle which means is then covered by winding arlayer of the strap thereover. This creates a bulge in the grip which is undesirable in that it is uncomfortable and may blister the hands of the user. Further, such securing meansl is susceptible to unloosening. The foregoing disadvantages and others of a kindred nature are overcome by the novel device constituting my invention which is particularly, though not necessarily, adapted for use with so-called bell-top grips of annular or polygonal cross section. These bell top grips are of a somewhat frusto-conical configurationvwith the greatest diameter or flared-end thereof disposed at the outer end of the shaft of the club. y 1n the depicted embodiment of the l invention this configuration is provided on the body member of the grip in thenature of an end plug 6 which is inserted into the hollow metal shaft 7 of the club. .i However, when the invention is used with a wooden shafted club this configuration will be provided on the upper end of such a shaft. The plug 6 and the adjacent portion of the shaft .7 provide Athe handle of the club on which the usual cushion k8 is arranged. The grip or grip covering includes a leather strap 9 or the like spirally woundabout the handle with the .upper marginal section 10 `thereof extending beyond the end of the plug 6. On the end of the' plug, centrally thereof, is a boss 11 of a height slightly greater than the thickness of the strap.` VMy novel cap is preferably made from sheet material. If desired it may be made of metal or a lmaterial like, or substantially like, pyroxylin.

If made of metal it will be suitably finished as by polishing or plating and when made of pyroxylin or like material it may be made in one or :more colors or in any othermanner to increasestheticappearance thereof. The peripheral configuration of the cap will,k be ysimilar to the cross section of the handle. The cap may be formed by pressing `it into the desiredv shape and Vthe .medial portion thereof is depressed to provide Va fiat bottomed depending boss 12 havinga countersunk opening 13 therein, the formation of this boss vdefining-a recess 14 opening into the top of the cap designated by 15.., At the periphery of the cap is a depending flange 16, the free edge of which is chamfered as indicated at 17, the edge 17 being below the plane of the bottom of the bossA 12. Between the flange 16` and the boss 12 a recess or groove 18 is' defined. After the strap 9 is arranged on the handle, the marginal section 10 is folded onto the end of the plug 6 toward the boss 11. yThecap 15 is then rested on the endv of the plug with the chamfered edge l17 embraC- l ing the fold in the strap whereby, the marginal section` 10 will be extended into the groove 18. A screw 19, or vother similar` fastening means, is then passed through 'the opening 13 and secured in the end of the plug 6. By tightening this screw the marginal section l0 is securely clamped between the cap `1'5 and the end ofthe plug 6 and displacement thereof is thus prevented. The outer face ofthe flange 16 will be aligned with the outer face of the strap 9 and therefore a smooth end will be formed on the handle, this being aided by the l, cooperation of the Afold in the marginal sectionlO with the chamfered edge 17. The end of the strap or grip covering'will be covered by the cap and thus fraying and other damage thereto. will bev cap, a smooth surface will be provided on saidV cap. The plug will be tightly pressed into the recess 14 to prevent displacement and, if desired, a suitable adhesive may be used to further insure against displacement. For example, if the plug be of a pyroxylin material,Y asmall amount of acetone will be introduced into the recess' which,'by its chemical action on such material, will secure ythe plug in the'reces's.

From the foregoing description it is manifest that I have provided ca p for golf club grips and the like which Will securely fasten the ends of such grips. Further, 'the cap will provide a smooth end for the grip and will effectively prevent damage to such end. Moreover, the cap is of pleasing appearance and will greatly enhance the aesthetic appearance of not only the grip out of the club as a whole. Since both the cap and the plug therefor maybe made from sheet material, economical manufacture is attained.

YIn Fig. 6 a modified form of construction is shown andr herein the cap 15 includes a medial depending boss l2', the flat bottom of which depends below the' chamfered edge 17 and is extended into a recess 21 in the end of 'the plug 6. A screw 19 is extended through the countersunk opening 13 to retain the cap 15 in position. The disposition of the plugin the recess provides a lateral-reenforcement for the cap and insures against'displaoement thereof. A cap 20 is employed to lill the recess 14 and to conceal the head of the screw 19.

In Fig. 7 a further modification is shown andl herein the cap 15 includesa medial depending boss 12 having a fiat bottom with an enlarged opening 13 therein. A plug 20 is passed through this opening and intoV an enlarged opening 2l in the end of plug 6, acetone or the like being used to secure this plug in the Here, again, lateral or transverse displacement is prevented.

'While' I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention it to be understood that this is capable of variation 'and v modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire Yto avail myself of suoli changes and alteration-s fall within the purview of theI following claims. e `1 I claim:

l. The combination with a golf club grip including a body member and a grip providing portion rhaving the free marginal part thereof folded onto theI end of the body 'membenof an Y end cap for said grip mountedV Wholly on the end o fhsaid grip and having the outer peripheral edge thereof valigned with the periphery of said grip,said cup having the inner surface thereof adjacent the inner marginal edge thereof spaced from the end of said body member to receive the clamp said grip providing portion between said marginal edge and the endof said body member, and means for securing said cap to said body member. .Y

2. The combination With a golf club grip including a body member and a grip providing portion having the free marginal part thereof vfolded onto the end of the body member, of yan endgcap for said grip mounted wholly on the end of said grip and having the outer peripheral edge thereof aligned with the periphery of said grip, said cap having a medially located de- "pressed part on the inner surface thereof and having the inner marginal edge thereof spaced from said depressed part to provide a pocket in the inner surface of said capadapted to receive the free marginal edge of the part of the grip providing portion folded-onto the end of said body member, said innerv marginal edge being engaged with the fold in said grip providing portion at the end cf'said body member to thereby clamp said gripv providing portion between said marginal edge and the end of said body member, and means for securing said cap to said body member.

3. The combination with a golf club grip including a bodyinember and a gripproviding portion having the free marginal part thereof folded onto the end of the body member, of an end cap for said grip mounted Wholly on the end of said grip and having the outer peripheral edge thereof aligned with the periphery oi said grip, said cap having a medially located depressed part on the inner surface thereof and having the inner marginal edge thereof spaced from said depressed part to provide a pocket in the inner surface of said cap adapted to receive the `free marginal yedge of the part of the grip providing portion folded ontov the end of said body-member, said inner marginal edge being engaged with the told in said grip providing portion at the end of saidbody member to thereby clamp said grip providing portion between said marginal edge and the end of said body member, said cap having a. recess therein 4'in the depressed portion opening through the outer surface thereof, and means in saidrecess for securing said cap to said body member tol retain said marginal edge in clamping relation with the fold in said grip providing portion.

v 4.l The combination with a golf lclub `grip including a body member having a boss on the end thereof and a .grip providing portion having the free marginalpart'thereof` folded onto the end of the bodymember about said boss, of an end oapfor said grip mounted wholly on the end of said grip and vhaving thefouter peripheral edge thereof aligned with the periphery of said grip, said cap having that part of the inner surface thereof adjacent vthe inner marginal edge thereof and yaligned With'the endof said body member and alined withtheportion of said body member about said ,boss spaced from said portion of said body member `te receive the free marginal edge of the part of the `grip providing portion folded onto the end of' said body member and having said inner marginal edge engaged with the fold in said Ygrip providing portion at the Yend of said body memberfto thereby 

